Fighting Racism In Israel

Adam Ognall, CEO New Israel Fund - Thursday 21st 2013f February 2013

Adam Ognall, CEO of the New Israel Fund, looks at the problem of racism in Israeli football and the work of anti-racism bodies in the country in trying to deal with it

Israeli football hit the headlines due to a group of Beitar Jerusalem fans' reaction to the signing of two Muslim players. Fans unfurled a banner "Beitar pure forever," and sang anti-Muslim chants. I was in Israel that week and watched some Beitar fans booing their own team at the next away game. The Beitar offices were also torched.

Of course the strong and positive response to these events has not received the same attention. This is the real story. Israel has taken great strides to stamp out racism around football. Something that other European footballing nations could take heed from.

The Israeli FA disciplinary committee closed Beitar's east stand for five games and fined the club 10,000. The club banned 50 known troublemakers.

This did not immediately stop the trouble and when one player, Kadiev, made his debut some fans booed. This was drowned out by the applause of a far larger group.

The actions of this hardcore caused a national wave of revulsion. President Peres denounced the fans, Knesset Speaker Rubi Rivlin (Beitar fan) asked how Israelis would feel if a German or English club refused to have Jewish players, and former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (Beitar fan) threatened to no longer attend matches.

Kadiev's debut came when Beitar played Bnei Sakhnin, the Arab-owned team. A rally held outside the ground by Kick Racism out of Israeli Football (KRO Israel) heard from Beitar legend Itzik Zohar. He said: "What has been happening here disgusts me. Football is for everyone and we cannot allow a small minority of racist fans to run the club."

KRO Israel celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. It was founded by the New Israel Fund. Its backbone is its Volunteers Forum who monitor matches and produce a weekly racism index of club's fans' behaviour. Over the years we have seen a marked reduction in racist incidents, with Beitar being by far the club with the greatest problems. KRO Israel now works closely with its FA and many clubs and it is a model that the English FA and UEFA both support and take lessons from.

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Source: http://totallyjewish.com/football/pro_soccer/c-19396/fighting-racism-in-israel/

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Outsourcing effort equals bigger profits | UoP News

Dr Alessio Ishizaka ? Reader in Decision Analysis

Companies could save millions of pounds if they followed 18 key success factors for outsourcing products and processes, according to researchers at Portsmouth Business School.

Outsourcing allows companies to achieve major benefits they would not be able to achieve otherwise, but the gains are not guaranteed and the risks are high.

The business world is littered with examples of outsourcing not working. Lego, the world?s fifth largest toy-maker, decided to outsource most of its manufacturing activity to help turn its fortunes around and two years later, the company brought its manufacturing back in-house. And Boeing outsourced most of the manufacturing on its new 787 Dreamliner to more than 50 suppliers worldwide, but after major delays and engineering problems, the company brought all major production back in-house.

Dr Alessio Ishizaka, a specialist in Operations and Systems Management at Portsmouth Business School, and his co-author, BA Business Studies student Rebecca Blakiston, have designed the 18 C?s model to increase the gains and alleviate the risks. In it, they urge businesses to give serious and continuous attention to their outsourcing arrangements.

Their research is published in the journal Industrial Marketing Management.

Dr Ishizaka said: ?The rewards of outsourcing can have a huge impact on any company?s bottom line, and a long-term relationship between client and supplier can create a feeling of trust which, in turn, promotes performance.

?But too many see it as just a cost-cutting exercise and don?t invest time and management in building and maintaining excellent relationships with those they outsource to.

?This negligence helps explain the high failure rate that continues to plague many companies trying to outsource activities. You could say some are doomed to fail.?

Dr Ishizaka?s and his student?s model is based on an in-depth study of a multi-national pharmaceutical company which, in 2002, outsourced five activities and, by 2007, was outsourcing 16 activities ? a 527 per cent increase in the outsource value. The company also saw a 30 per cent drop in in-house facility management costs in the first three years.

The 18 C?s model shares the responsibility for success between the client and service provider. It specifies that the client needs commitment from senior management, has clear aims and objectives, confidence and a good team working environment.

The service provider needs to be able to provide the ?right sort of staff; people who know the business?, have clearly defined roles, client knowledge, be consistent, undergo continuous improvement succession planning, be customer focused and offer continuity.

There also needs to be a cultural fit between the client and the service provider, two-way communication and a connection at the top of the business. The contract needs to be flexible, allowing room for growth and change, and of a suitable scale, so that the most senior members of staff in both client and provider companies are able to talk to each other direct.

Dr Ishizaka said: ?Outsourcing has become a widespread management strategy, but management of the relationship is essential to ensure it is successful long-term.?

Lego and Boeing both had difficulties with their outsourcing arrangements and both opted to bring production back in-house as a result.

In 2004, Lego was facing the largest financial crisis in its 70-year history. Among the many initiatives to turn the company?s fortunes around, it outsourced a major chunk of its production to an American company based in Singapore which, in turn, managed much of its injection-moulding and packing in its supplier?s factories in Mexico and Hungary. Three years later, Lego ended the outsourcing agreement due to continued and on-going problems. The outsourcing arrangement may not have worked, but it taught the toy maker valuable lessons, including the need to embrace a global manufacturing model. In 2009 Lego recorded one of the highest profits in its history.

Boeing had for decades been responsible for some of the biggest advances in aviation and, in 2003, began developing the carbon-composite lightweight Dreamliner, planned to enter service in 2008. Boeing outsourced about two-thirds of the development and manufacturing of parts to a global network of suppliers but problems became apparent in 2007 when engineers assembling the first Dreamliner found a gap between two sections, each manufactured by different suppliers. In 2008 more delays were reported, including problems with the global supply chain. In 2011, the Dreamliner won certification to carry passengers but due to fires, leaks and battery problems, the airliner was grounded worldwide in January 2013. Boeing has now brought major production back in-house.

Source: http://www.port.ac.uk/uopnews/2013/02/21/outsourcing-effort-equals-bigger-profits/

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Google Drive leads Android Apps of the Week

An update to Google Drive leads this week?s best apps on Android, mostly because Google constantly improves the productivity app, making it the handiest on the platform. Whether you need storage, word processing, or room for collaboration, Google Drive helps get work done, and its update includes some minor but extremely useful improvements. It joins a list of updates and inventive apps that will help make your Android devices more useful, and may even save you from getting caught in the rain.

Google Drive just might be one of the most useful apps on the Android platform. The app ties users into cloud-saved documents, giving them the ability to write, edit, and create on the web-based platform, and wrapping it all together with a super-handy cloud storage system. With all the capabilities Google Drive brings to smartphones and tablets, it?s the kind of app you absolutely need.This update adds pinch-to-zoom capabilities and streaming video support.

We?ve all heard about what a powerful news engine Twitter and other social networks can be, and many of us who frequent those sites use them to get a handle on what?s going on in the world. NewsWhip goes a step further and scans through the ?billions? of users on networks such as Facebook and Twitter, aggregates what those people are sharing in links and articles, and brings it to you as a news feed. It?s a great way to tap into what stories are popular, with the cool filter of being able to see what?s popular in different places around the world.

I love playing games on my mobile devices, but it?s refreshing to see apps pop up that actually have some greater artistic and cultural value. Tapestry is such an app. It?s a free delivery service for short fiction, with a clean user interface and a beautiful presentation. The app gets periodic updates with new stories from different authors, and you?ll be able to share pages with friends, interact with authors directly through social networks, and read in offline mode. So, your smartphone will be good for more than just blasting zombies and compulsively checking which friends liked your latest Facebook post.

As far as music streaming services go, Slacker Radio wants curated content to be more than just ?big giant list of songs.? Of course, there is a big giant list of songs that you can pull from and create your own playlists. But Slacker Radio adds talk radio, sports coverage, and playlists that combine those elements to allow, thereby offering alternatives to the most popular song hits of the day or obscure tracks from years ago. And its new update adds a total redesign of the app, bringing a new and tighter user interface.

If you?re looking for information on the weather, look no further than the Weather Channel app. We?re talking forecasts for the next few hours or the next few days, weather conditions from around the world, and fast-loading weather maps. The app?s latest update throws in improvements to the app?s performance, faster loading times, tablet optimization, and one extremely handy feature: forecast updates that give the exact time of weather changes. You?ll never get caught in the rain again, unless you want to.

Download the free Appolicious Android app

Source: http://www.androidapps.com/tech/articles/13244-google-drive-leads-android-apps-of-the-week

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a new opinion in Computer about Sony VAIO E Series SVE1511M1E

Ok, so its been almost 3 months since i bought my laptop, lets divide this review into pros and cons.

Pros -

1 -> Build Quality, yes its not a mono-cog design, but its still very very strong, I travel alot with it, around 1000 to 1500 miles every month, in the mean time I use buses and railways. And sometimes, kilos of luggage is kept over my laptop bag, still no signs of damage. And you can't feel how strong it is even by holding it, but it certainly is very strong. Also, the rests and the 60% of body is made of metallic materials, which gives it a very beautiful looking design.

2 -> Speakers, It's got excellent speakers for a laptop in its price range. Sony's been using there new xLoud audio technology and its phenomenal. Yes, it lacks bass, but its very powerful, and can be heard all over the room, no need to carry external set of speakers for general purpose.

3 -> Ketboard, It's got a very nice keyboard, its gives a feedback of a mechanical keyboard, also its a full desktop keyboard, so there's no problem using it.

4 -> Performance, It can run any game on the market period. I've played Hitman absolution, need for speed run, and most wanted 2, no problem, not a hint of lag. Mostlly on higher than medium settings. Its surprising what a laptop in this price range can do.

5 -> Heat sink, Sony was really on a point when they were designing this laptop, it literally never gets hot, even on intense gaming some mildly hot gas is released by the heat sink place conveniently on the left of the laptop (next of the USB port), so you're not blocking it even by placing it on bed.

6 -> Nice recovery options, Its got an ASSIST and WEB, button along side power button. ASSIST button takes you straight to recovery options from bios, there on you can recover your laptop to factory settings etc. While WEB button takes you to a fatory linux installation, which boots up in seconds in case you want to browse web instantly.

7 -> Multi Touch Touch Pad, its got an extremely nice touch pad, it works with 2-3 or more fingers. The whole pad is clickable, if you decide to upgrade to windows 8 (which you should), the multi finger swype, and scrolling and other tasks become heavily easier. Infact its impossible for me use a laptop without one now.

8 -> Battery life, Its incredible for its performance, you can watch 4 movies on one charge and it barely takes any time to charge, infact i remember charging it over 33% in a matter of half an hour.

CONS :-

To be honest there aren't many

1 -> Sometimes the track pad would stop responding to multi finger gestures under intense CPU pressure.(No, I dont really know why.)

2 -> Some times, random particles would slide under keys, which are impossible to remove. They make key feedback awful.

3 -> The laptop is strong, but as i mentioned it lacks mono-cog design, which means there are tiny openings between the joints, which doesn't look good.

In all, its a very good purchase, it seems like it would last for ever on me, without any problems.

Summary: A nice and hassle free laptop. Runs everything smoothly and has an almost flawless design.

Source: http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/laptops/sony-vaio-e-series-sve1511m1e/1691233/

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NY developer: Airline reneging on 9/11 promise

NEW YORK (AP) ? A New York developer of the World Trade Center complex is accusing an airline of reneging on a promise not to use an "act of war" defense against property claims resulting from the Sept. 11 attacks.

Developer Larry Silverstein asked a judge Wednesday to reject American Airlines' claim that the 2001 terrorist attack was an act of war that should shield the airline from liability.

Lawyers for Silverstein said in filings in federal court in Manhattan that the airline and its insurance carriers promised Congress, regulators and the American people that the defense would not be used. The lawyers said the aviation industry in return got a massive federal bailout that protected businesses after the attacks.

An American Airlines spokesman says Silverstein's claims have "no factual or legal support."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-02-20-Sept%2011%20Lawsuits/id-10b6bf79deb34a7483990261dfcb5e4c

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Chicken Hunters: New Reality Series Could Become Miami's Duck Dynasty

Miami New Times:

Chickens: They're everywhere in Miami, roaming the streets like stray cats. To tourists, the roosters strutting on Little Havana sidewalks are just a quaint photo opportunity, but to some locals, the birds are a nuisance.

Read the whole story at Miami New Times

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/20/chicken-hunters-new-reali_n_2725432.html

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The Witness is headed to PlayStation 4, the next game from Braid creator Jonathan Blow

Nothing could've been more delightful than Braid creator Jonathan Blow suddenly walking on-stage at Sony's big PlayStation 4 reveal only to make fun of all the explosions the event had already featured. Oh sure, he was also at the event to reveal that his latest game, The Witness, is headed to Sony's PlayStation 4 (as well as to PC and iOS, as the reveal trailer elucidates), but the first statement was much funnier. Anyway, the game looks much, much better than the various demos we've played across the past few years -- Blow's been developing The Witness for quite some time, and showing it publicly, albeit never on a PlayStation 4. We'll hopefully hear more in the coming days, so keep an eye out.

Update: This post originally stated that The Witness was heading exclusively to the PlayStation 4, when in fact it's only "console exclusive" to the PlayStation 4. It will also launch on iOS and PC. We've added the new trailer below the break.

Filed under: Gaming, Software, HD, Sony

Comments

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/20/the-witness-playstation-4-exclusive/

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Google and Intuit get Virginia small business online - Roanoke Free ...

Workshop attendees with online presence raise their hand.

It was a packed house for both workshops held at the Taubman Museum of Art Tuesday. There were 60 computers sitting ready for two sessions aimed at getting small businesses with no Internet presence online for the first time. Extra tables had to be set up to accommodate as many as 100 people for the second workshop.

Sue and Brittany Staley came from Martinsville. They purchased Hidden Valley Farmz. Sue said they hoped to get a website up to showcase their all natural farm. ?We?re trying to get people out to see what they are putting on their table.?

The workshop was free and Intuit offered a free website for up to 3 pages for one year. After the initial year the business would pay $6.99 a month if they decide to keep it. The offer is still available at VirginiaGetOnline.com for businesses still wanting to take advantage of the offer.

Google came to Roanoke in response to a request by Congressman Bob Goodlatte. Goodlatte was a guest speaker at the second workshop. He served as past Chairman of the Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Competition, and the Internet. Congress is currently working on legislation that would require online businesses to collect sales tax for goods sold across state lines. Online business currently only collect sales tax in the state where they reside.

Goodlatte will support online sales tax legislation but as Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee he told attendees that he will insist that it be make ?as simple and seamless for [businesses] online.? He made the point that with all states having differing requirements for collecting sales tax it would create a collection nightmare for online retailers.

Cracking down on criminal activity on the Internet is another effort Congress needs to undertake. The ?trust factor? is an important for businesses. ?People won?t do business with you unless they trust you,? said Goodlatte.

Sue and Brittany Staley of Martinsville prepare for workshop.

Becca Ginsberg, Communications Manager for Virginia Get Your Business Online said that their research showed that 97 percent of users go online to look for local products and services. In Virginia 45 percent of all businesses do not have a website. ?A quarter of those are completely invisible online,? she said.

Ginsberg said she has heard from business who are intimidated by the Internet and perceive a website as being too time consuming. ?They just haven?t taken that step to do it.?

Businesses attending the workshop will have a website by the end of the session she said. They were told to bring pictures and think of what they wanted to say on their new website. Businesses without a website are at a disadvantage as more and more people search for services and goods online. ?If they don?t find you online they?ll go to the next business,? said Ginsberg.

Soo Young Kim, the Head of Marketing for VGYBO said those who come to the workshop prepared will have their website up in 60-90 minutes with no coding using Intuit?s Sitebuilder tool. ?If businesses aren?t online consumers can?t find them ? especially those with no storefront and businesses grow 40 percent faster when they are online.?

Later Congressman Goodlatte expanded on the sales tax legislation that Virginia hopes to tap for its transportation needs. He has conveyed to Governor Bob McDonnell who has included online sales tax revenue for his transportation plan based on congressional action that there is no timeline. ?It has a long way to go,? said Goodlatte. ?My initial reaction is that there is more work to be done to make sure that the businesses are treated fairly.?

Congressman Bob Goodlatte speaks to workshop attendees.

Red tape has to be eliminated he said. There is both legislation to exempt small businesses and there is legislation to require them to be more streamlined. ?I frankly prefer that all businesses be treated the same,? said Goodlatte. He favors all business participate in a streamlined system. Small businesses would have one sales tax for Virginia transactions and one sales tax for their interstate transactions.

Goodlatte said consideration for businesses not online needs to be considered. Different states have different kinds of paperwork and some give kickbacks. All that needs to be worked out with the 45 states that have a sales tax. ?You don?t have a representative in [another state's] legislature to go and complain like you do here in Virginia.?

Businesses online currently have a sales tax advantage over ?brick and mortar? businesses. On the flip side online businesses have shipping costs to contend with said Goodlatte. ?This legislation is not going to move anytime soon,? he said. There needs to be some compact between the states for it to move forward before Goodlatte would support it. ?That is a significant concern of mine.?

Source: http://www.roanokefreepress.com/google-and-intuit-get-virginia-small-business-online/

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Greensboro City Council agrees to match private donations for new ...

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GREENSBORO -- The Greensboro Performing Arts Center is closer to reality. Tuesday night, city council agreed to match the $20 million already pledged in private donations. The money will come from user fees, such as the county's hotel-motel tax and ticket costs.

The other $20 million for the $60 million project could come from state and federal grants. The project could be completed by 2016.

Source: http://triad.news14.com/content/top_stories/688927/greensboro-city-council-agrees-to-match-private-donations-for-new-performing-arts-center

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Justin Bieber Hitman Call: Released, Chilling

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/02/justin-bieber-hitman-call-released-chilling/

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Orleans Parish School Board president fails to win support for controversial moves

In the first full Orleans Parish School Board meeting of 2013, new President Ira Thomas tried to exercise his power on several fronts. In the end, though, all of his controversial moves were blocked.

Thomas filed an agenda item to nullify and renegotiate interim Superintendent Stan Smith's contract; instead, board members voted to review and then probably ratify that contract. Second, his attempt to void the contract of Deputy Superintendent for Charter Schools Kathleen Padian died when no other board member would support it. Finally, even though Thomas blocked a key tax-credit item from being added to the agenda, three board members went through the necessary procedure to get a special meeting called to address that issue Thursday.

Cynthia Cade, who was Thomas' closest ally on the school board in recent years, was out of town and unable to come to his aid.

Thomas joined the board in 2009 and won re-election in November. He represents eastern New Orleans and works as the police chief for Southern University at New Orleans. In January, the board elected him president unanimously in spite of several members' disagreement behind the scenes.?

Before Hurricane Katrina, Thomas was the head of security for the school board. He lost that job and sued the board for wrongful termination. Board attorney Ed Morris filed to get the suit dismissed last year after three years passed with no action on it.

Although Thomas objected to Padian's and Smith's appointments in May 2012 and has berated them at meetings, his proposals to nullify their contracts came as a surprise, added to the agenda at the last minute Monday evening.

Morris said he thought both contracts were invalid. In Padian's case, he said, the agenda item promoting her to deputy superintendent last year did not explicitly direct the board's staff to draw up a contract for her. Therefore, Morris said, the full board had never approved the contract the board's president at the time signed, rendering it invalid.

The issue with Smith's contract is that the board didn't OK all of its terms and conditions. The board set Smith's salary as interim superintendent but did not specify that when a permanent superintendent was hired Smith would return to his former position as chief financial officer, with a higher salary but no official car. Those financial terms should have gone back to the full board for approval, Morris said.

Board member Seth Bloom, a lawyer and one of those critical of Morris' arguments, asked why the attorney had not raised an objection at the time. "How did it get through (you) if it wasn't legal?" he asked.

Bloom questioned why the board couldn't simply fix any problems, and he filed a substitute motion to have the board look at Smith's contract, amend it if needed and then ratify it at a future meeting. That won the day over Thomas' more extreme measure to nullify and renegotiate the contract. Board Vice President Leslie Ellison and members Woody Koppel, Nolan Marshall Jr. and Sarah Newell Usdin voted in favor of Bloom's motion. Thomas abstained and Cade was absent.

On Padian's contract, Marshall attempted a compromise motion that would have voided her contract but then required Thomas, Ellison and Morris to negotiate a new one. That failed for lack of a majority, with Bloom, Koppel and Usdin voting against it. Then no one offered a motion to vote on Thomas' original item, rendering it dead. Thomas fumed at that, saying the board was sanctioning an illegal contract.

Former School Board President Thomas Robichaux, also a lawyer, said earlier Tuesday that the contract negotiations and signings for Padian and Smith had followed standard board procedure.

Padian's contract was discussed in a lengthy executive session -- a move that Caroline Roemer Shirley, head of the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools, said was illegal. The board did not let her speak further because she had submitted her "public comment" card too late.

Under the law, boards may discuss a matter behind closed doors if it's a personnel issue or if the board has received a "formal written demand" that threatens a lawsuit or implies a threat to sue, Louisiana Department of Education lawyer Joan Hunt said Tuesday. Padian told reporters she had not said or written anything indicating she might sue the board.

For personnel issues, Shirley said in an interview, the board is required to give the person to be discussed 24 hours' written notice and the option to have the matter discussed in open session instead.

Thomas also stood alone on the question of whether the board should approve about $2 million in tax credits for the new Wheatley School in Treme. The deal is set to close in the next 14 to 21 days -- if the OPSB signs the last papers this week. The major issue it needs to take care of is reauthorizing a corporation to receive the tax credits. The previous board created that corporation in the fall, but the decision has to be redone with the new board membership.

Usdin, Recovery School District Superintendent Patrick Dobard and representatives of several business and school reform groups argued that failing to check the final box on the project would not only take money away from kids but also embarrass the city.

"It will send an unfortunate message to investors nationwide" to stay away from New Orleans schools "because we cannot work together, OPSB and RSD," Dobard said.

Adding an item to the agenda at the meeting must be done by unanimous vote. Thomas cast the sole vote against adding the tax-credit item. He said he didn't understand why the board was being asked to allocate $22 million in order to get $2 million in credits. Usdin said that could be discussed if the item went on the agenda.

Despite Thomas' objections, the matter will be discussed Thursday instead. Usdin, Koppel and Bloom submitted a request for a special meeting; by board policy, if three members request a special meeting, it must be held.

The board approved new committee assignments with relatively little dissension. Usdin will chair the accountability committee, Ellison budget/finance, Bloom legal/legislative, Cade policy and Marshall property. Marshall will also chair the school building master plan oversight committee, which is a joint endeavor of the RSD and OPSB.

Source: http://www.nola.com/education/index.ssf/2013/02/orleans_parish_school_board_pr_2.html

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Sony NEX-3N and Alpha A58 unveiled, heading to Europe this spring

Sony's Alpha A58 and NEX-3N broke cover just a few days ago in rogue press shots, and now the firm's European branch has made the duo official. With a 16.1-megapixel Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor, the NEX-3N picks up the banner as the outfit's entry level mirrorless camera and packs a 3-inch LCD screen that can tilt up to 180 degrees. According to Sony, the NEX-3N is the smallest and lightest interchangeable lens camera with an APS-C sized sensor, gently tipping the scales at 269 grams. The shooter sports a pop-up flash, has its ISO notched up 16000, a revamped Bionz processor for noise reduction and even packs support for Sony's Triluminos display tech. A price tag for the NEX-3N is still MIA, but it's slated to hit Europe in March.

As for the translucent mirror-toting A58, it features a 20.1-megapixel Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor and a 2.6-inch, 460k-dot LCD with an adjustable angle. If you'd rather not compose shots with the LCD screen, however, the A58 also has an OLED viewfinder. When it comes to video, the device can record 1920×1080 footage in AVCHD. Hirai and Co.'s refreshed Bionz image processing engine makes an appearance in the camera as well. Come April, the A58 will be available in Europe with an as-of-yet unspecified price tag.

Itching for new lenses? Sony's just dished out details on a trio of new A-mount glass and accessories (with some E-mount peripherals as well) that are headed for a March debut in Europe. For the complete lowdown on the cams, lenses and accessories, hit the jump for the press releases and galleries.

Gallery: Sony NEX-3N

Gallery: Sony A58

Gallery: Sony A-Mount lenses, A-mount and E-mount accessories

Show full PR text

Easy to handle, easy to use: the new NEX-3N by Sony puts pro-quality images in everyone's reach 20 February 2013

Super-compact interchangeable lens APS-C camera weighs just 210g

• No-fuss self-portraits with 180° tiltable LCD screen and zoom lever
• Large Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor with 16.1 effective megapixels and high sensitivity, for detail-packed, low noise photos and Full HD video
• Beautiful compositions made easy with new Auto Object Framing
• Light, compact body with pop-up flash
• Moving up from your fixed lens camera? Travel light with the compact, easy to use NEX-3N E-mount camera with built-in flash - an exciting introduction to the world of interchangeable lens photography by Sony.

Self-portraits have never been simpler with the NEX-3N, thanks to the camera's easy-to-hold textured grip that fits reassuringly in the hand. The crisp, bright 7.5cm (3.0-type) LCD screen instantly flips through 180 degrees for fuss-free arm's-length compositions. What's more, a newly-added zoom lever on the camera body allows smooth, fingertip control of focal length with compatible lenses like the slim, light SELP1650 power zoom. Great for one-handed portrait framing, the zoom lever also adjusts digital zoom if you're not using a powered lens.

All serious photographers know that great photos start with a great composition. Brand new Auto Object Framing helps you get better-looking, more professional results without effort. The camera judges what's in the scene - one person, two people or even macro and moving objects - automatically cropping the shot to create more powerful, professionally-framed compositions.

Weighing approximately 210g, the NEX-3N is the world's smallest, lightest interchangeable-lens camera with a large APS-C sized sensor*. Grabbing more light than the sensor in ordinary compact cameras, it's the big sensor that's key to exquisitely detailed photos and sparkling Full HD movies that stand out from the crowd. What's more, it's easy to create pro-style background blur effects with your collection of interchangeable E-mount lenses... just like you'd achieve with a bigger, bulkier DSLR camera.

The camera's large sensor also boosts maximum sensitivity to ISO 16000. It's complemented by an evolved BIONZ processor that uses the same area-specific noise reduction techniques featured on the acclaimed full-frame α99. Levels of noise reduction and sharpness are individually adjusted for different image areas. Even if you're shooting in dim light, you'll enjoy crisp, ultra-low noise handheld shots without needing flash.

The NEX-3N is also the first NEX interchangeable lens camera from Sony that offers support for new "TRILUMINOS Colour". You'll experience a dramatically expanded palette of vivid, ultra-realistic colours when videos and still images are played back on any BRAVIA TV with support for "TRILUMINOS Display".

There's now a range of thirteen high-quality E-mount lenses to realise the immense creative potential of the NEX-3N. Choose from telephoto, zoom, wide angle, macro lenses by Sony and Carl Zeiss to suit any shooting situation. Every model blends superb optical performance with elegant looks to complement your E-mount camera. There's also a full range of coordinating accessories by Sony, from style-matching carry cases and straps to spare batteries.

The light, compact new NEX-3N interchangeable lens camera from Sony is available in Europe from March 2013.

* Among interchangeable-lens cameras with an APS-C sensor and pop-up flash, as of Feb 2013.

Never miss the moment: the new α58 from Sony

Digital SLT camera with Translucent Mirror Technology

• Capture fine detail with new 20.1 effective megapixels Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor
• Grab fast-moving action with speedy 8fps* shooting and new Lock-on Autofocus
• Shoot and view with confidence through new OLED Tru-Finder
• Compose like a pro with new Auto Object Framing

* In Tele-zoom Continuous Advance Priority AE mode

For life's spontaneous moments - catch all the split-second excitement with the new α58 interchangeable lens camera from Sony. With Translucent Mirror technology for speedy shooting with fast, accurate autofocus, it's the must-have choice for grabbing those once-in-a-lifetime picture opportunities. Even if you're new to interchangeable lens photography, you'll enjoy image quality that effortlessly exceeds your point-and-shoot compact camera, plus features you'd expect from a far higher-priced DSLR.

At the heart of the α58 is a brand new Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor with an extremely high resolution of (approx.) 20.1 effective megapixels. It's teamed with an improved BIONZ image processing engine for exceptionally detailed, low-noise stills and Full HD video, plus an extra-wide sensitivity range of ISO 100 to 16000.

Pick from the choice of 35 interchangeable A-mount lenses (including two tele-converters) and experience flawless images in virtually any lighting conditions, from dimly-lit interiors to atmospheric twilight scenes. Even if you're shooting handheld, SteadyShot INSIDE keeps pictures crisp and stable, letting you shoot with confidence at slower shutter speeds or higher zoom settings where wobbles are often a worry.

Unlike ordinary DSLR cameras, SLT cameras by Sony use Translucent Mirror technology that directs light onto the main image sensor as well as a separate autofocus sensor. This means that subjects stay sharply focused at all times as you compose scenes with the tilt-angle LCD or through the high-resolution, high-contrast OLED Tru-Finder. And with no moving mirror to slow you down, you'll enjoy non-stop live image preview during speedy burst shooting or while you're recording Full HD video.

The α58 is your ideal partner for grabbing the action as it happens - like sports, wildlife or spur-of-the-moment fun with friends and family. Tele-zoom Continuous Advance Priority AE mode brings that decisive moment closer with a high-speed burst of sharp images at 8 frames per second. The high-performance 15-point AF system now features Lock-on Autofocus with speedier, more accurate subject tracking. So now you can capture the athletic grace of a gymnast or animals in the wild with a burst of crisply-focused images, even if your subject's moving.

Featured on previous models, Auto Portrait Framing has now evolved into even more versatile Auto Object Framing - helping you get better-looking, more professional results without effort. The α58 judges what's in the scene - one person, two people, even moving objects or macro subjects - tracking, framing and cropping the shot to create powerful, professionally-framed compositions. Thanks to Pixel Super Resolution Technology by Sony, cropped images preserve the same resolution as the original exposure.

Instantly selectable from the mode dial, Picture Effect lets you pick from a palette of 15 artistic 'in-camera' treatments, like Toy Camera, Mono and Partial Colour.

Framing, focusing and viewing your shots is a pleasure through the new OLED Tru-Finder. This bright, high resolution electronic viewfinder accurately shows the results of adjusting camera settings in real time. Instantly see the result of adjusting exposure compensation, aperture, ISO, white balance, Picture Effect and other parameters before you shoot... not after. It's a great way to compose the perfect shot with confidence.

The α58 is the first-ever A-mount interchangeable lens camera from Sony that offers support for new 'TRILUMINOS Colour'. You'll experience a dramatically expanded palette of vivid, ultra-realistic colours when videos and still images are played back on any BRAVIA TV with support for 'TRILUMINOS Display'.

The new α58 interchangeable lens camera from Sony with Translucent Mirror technology is available from April 2013.

Sony adds three A-mount lenses, new A-mount and E-mount accessories

Full-frame G Lens 70-400mm telephoto zoom; Full-frame Carl Zeiss Planar 50mm F1.4; DT 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 standard zoom; compact add-on flash and remote commander

• New-generation 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM II telephoto zoom - with 4x faster autofocus and improved optical performance
• Full-frame, wide-aperture, single-focal-length Carl Zeiss Planar T* 50mm F1.4 ZA SSM - high-end image quality with renowned resolving power and contrast
• Light, compact, newly-styled DT 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 SAM II standard 3x zoom lens - designed for APS-C cameras
• HVL-F20M flash - space-saving design with wireless control and bounce flash
• RM-VPR1 wired remote - easily control shutter release, video start/stop and zoom
• Sony extends the range of A-mount interchangeable lenses with three new models to satisfy the most demanding enthusiasts and photo professionals.
• The 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM II and Carl Zeiss Planar T* 50mm F1.4 ZA SSM lenses complement the impressive imaging capabilities of Sony's full-frame α99 SLT (Translucent Mirror) camera. The DT 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 SAM II is a light, compact 3x zoom that's an ideal partner for A-mount cameras with APS-C sensors.

They're joined by a compact new on-camera flash and a wired remote that's ideal for advanced shooting.

"70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM II" telephoto zoom

Sony's G lens line-up is strengthened for 2013 with the revised 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM II. Ideal for capturing wildlife and action-packed sports, the upgraded super-telephoto zoom builds further on the premium performance of its predecessor with enhanced optics and faster, more responsive autofocus. Thanks to a new LSI drive circuit, autofocus speed of the SSM (Super Sonic Wave Motor) is around four times quicker than before. Teamed with enhanced tracking AF, the upgraded lens is now even more suitable for capturing stills and Full HD video of fast-moving subjects.

While its optical design is carried over from the previous-generation model, the new-generation lens features Sony's proprietary Nano AR Coating on optical surfaces. Offering around five times the efficiency of conventional anti-reflection coatings, this advanced technology reduces flare and ghosting for exceptionally high-contrast images.

Carl Zeiss "Planar T* 50mm F1.4 ZA SSM"

The new Planar T* 50mm F1.4 ZA SSM joins the existing Distagon 24mm, Planar 85mm and Sonnar 135mm in the A-mount range of prime length optics by Carl Zeiss. Offering a fixed 50mm focal length and extra-bright F1.4 aperture, the premium lens is an ideal choice for quality-critical portraiture and low-light shooting.

Featuring 8 elements in 5 groups with two aspherical elements, the brand new optical design is optimised for superb results with Sony's full-frame α99. Exceptional resolving power and contrast at all apertures are teamed with smooth, quiet autofocusing and a rear-focus system that maintains the same lens body length during AF. The dust- and moisture-resistant design extends the appeal of the new lens to a wide range of outdoor shooting applications.

"DT 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 SAM II" zoom

Boasting second-generation styling, this new lens succeeds the popular DT 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 SAM that was introduced in 2011. The light, compact 3x zoom lens covers a frequently-used range of focal lengths from wide-angle 18mm to standard 55mm (35mm camera equivalent range: 27-82.5mm). While retaining the same smooth AF motor (SAM) as its predecessor, newly-designed rear lens elements suppresses flare and ghost, while mechanical elements have been upgraded for more positive, comfortable operation.

New accessories for Sony cameras and camcorders

The HVL-F20M is a space-saving, easy to carry new flash for Multi Interface Shoe mounted cameras, that's ideal for brightening up portraits, interiors and dimly-lit scenes. Despite its compact size, it's packed with pro-style features like wireless control for fuss-free multi flash set-ups, simple bounce operation and Auto White Balance compensation for more accurate, natural-looking white balance. It's refreshingly easy to use: just raise the flash head to switch on... then turn off again by lowering when the flash isn't needed.

Compatible with a growing range of 'α' A-mount and E-mount, Cyber-shot[TM] and Handycam(R) models that feature the versatile Multi Terminal interface, the RM-VPR1 wired remote commander features handy controls for zoom and video recording start/stop. It also includes a shutter lock function that's ideal for long-exposure 'bulb' shooting with 'α' cameras. The remote comes supplied with two cables. One is for use with Multi Terminal-equipped cameras/camcorders, while the other allows simple shutter release with 'α' A-mount cameras that only include a REMOTE terminal.

Please see http://www.sony.co.uk/hub/lenses for full details on new lens and accessories.

The new lenses and accessories will start to become available in Europe from March 2013.

Filed under: Cameras, Sony

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How seals sleep with only half their brain at a time

Feb. 19, 2013 ? A new study led by an international team of biologists has identified some of the brain chemicals that allow seals to sleep with half of their brain at a time.

The study was published this month in the Journal of Neuroscience and was headed by scientists at UCLA and the University of Toronto. It identified the chemical cues that allow the seal brain to remain half awake and asleep. Findings from this study may explain the biological mechanisms that enable the brain to remain alert during waking hours and go off-line during sleep.

"Seals do something biologically amazing -- they sleep with half their brain at a time. The left side of their brain can sleep while the right side stays awake. Seals sleep this way while they're in water, but they sleep like humans while on land. Our research may explain how this unique biological phenomenon happens" said Professor John Peever of the University of Toronto.

The study's first author, University of Toronto PhD student Jennifer Lapierre, made this discovery by measuring how different chemicals change in the sleeping and waking sides of the brain. She found that acetylcholine -- an important brain chemical -- was at low levels on the sleeping side of the brain but at high levels on the waking side. This finding suggests that acetylcholine may drive brain alertness on the side that is awake.

But, the study also showed that another important brain chemical -- serotonin -- was present at the equal levels on both sides of the brain whether the seals were awake or asleep. This was a surprising finding because scientist long thought that serotonin was a chemical that causes brain arousal.

These findings have possible human health implications because "about 40% of North Americans suffer from sleep problems and understanding which brain chemicals function to keep us awake or asleep is a major scientific advance. It could help solve the mystery of how and why we sleep" says the study's senior author Jerome Siegel of UCLA's Brain Research Institute.

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Journal Reference:

1. J. L. Lapierre, P. O. Kosenko, T. Kodama, J. H. Peever, L. M. Mukhametov, O. I. Lyamin, J. M. Siegel. Symmetrical Serotonin Release during Asymmetrical Slow-Wave Sleep: Implications for the Neurochemistry of Sleep-Waking States. Journal of Neuroscience, 2013; 33 (6): 2555 DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2603-12.2013

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/most_popular/~3/Fzkp_0lAL18/130219140252.htm

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Highly flexible organic semiconductors: Research paves way for thin-sheet plastic displays or wearable electronics

Feb. 15, 2013 ? Organic semiconductors hold promise for making low-cost flexible electronics -- conceivably video displays that bend like book pages or roll and unroll like posters, or wearable circuitry sewn into uniforms or athletic wear. Researchers have demonstrated the ability to "print" transistors made of organic crystals on flexible plastic sheets, using technology that resembles inkjet or gravure printing.

However, for the technology's potential to be realized, scientists have to show that these organic semiconductors will withstand the rugged handling they invite -- they will need to perform reliably in spite of frequent flexing and sharp bending.

In an article published Dec. 11, 2012 in Nature Communications, scientists led by Rutgers University physicist Vitaly Podzorov report they have demonstrated extremely flexible organic semiconductors that withstood multiple bending cycles in which the devices were rolled to a radius as small as 200 micrometers. The scientists worked with numerous crystalline devices they made and found no degradation in their performance.

Podzorov claims his is the first rigorous study of solution-crystallized organic semiconductors under various types of strain -- sharp bending and repeated flexing along with compression and stretching. He acknowledges some earlier encouraging studies of mechanical robustness, but felt those lacked rigorous tests of flexibility involving different types of organic semiconductors, especially those that show the most promise for development of low-cost printed electronics. The scientists at Rutgers focused on two soluble small molecules (developed in the group of Prof. John Anthony at the University of Kentucky), depositing and crystallizing them on thin plastic sheets from solution, and claim the results should apply to numerous other organic formulations that researchers are investigating.

Podzorov is an associate professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and a member of the university's Institute for Advanced Materials, Devices and Nanotechnology. He collaborated with Rutgers postdoctoral researcher Hee Taek Yi and with Marcia Payne and John Anthony of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Kentucky. The work at Rutgers was funded by the Chemistry of Materials program of the U.S. Department of Energy, and the effort at the University of Kentucky was funded by the Office of Naval Research.

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Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/strange_science/~3/-gYr2q-ZPwk/130217085253.htm

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Delays in purchasing for Canadian military at record levels under Conservatives

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UUndated handout photo of theLockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, Also known as Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) in flight.

Photograph by: Canada - Wire

Delays in the purchasing of military equipment have reached record levels under the Conservative government, according to a newly released Defence Department analysis.

It now takes, on average, 199 months ? more than 16 years ? from start to finish for military acquisitions, the examination of 55 equipment projects found. It was written in 2011, but there has been no improvement in the meantime, say Defence Department sources.

The analysis, obtained by the Citizen, throws into question the claims by Conservative minsters that their government has significantly reduced the amount of time to buy military equipment.

Public Works Minister Rona Ambrose told the Commons last week that ?since 2006, our government had reduced the average major military procurement process to 48 months. This is five years faster than under the former Liberal government.?

However, the DND analysis found that in 1998 under the Liberal government the average acquisition time for equipment was 190 months. But several years later, after initiatives to improve the situation were brought in by Alan Williams, then assistant deputy minister at the Defence Department in charge of procurement, the figure dropped to 96 months and then to 89 months.

Those reductions were made under Liberal prime ministers Jean Chr?tien and Paul Martin.

The DND analysis shows that by 2010-11 the time it took to buy equipment had climbed to 199 months.

The increase could be caused by a larger number of equipment projects on the go, a lack of skills among staff, or the complexity of the procurement system, the analysis suggests.

But it added: ?It is impossible to pinpoint what is delaying the cycle time, further in-depth analysis needs to be conducted to review the whole acquisition process. Progress has not been made in reducing the overall acquisition cycle time.?

Ambrose has noted that under the Conservative government, successful procurement programs included the C-130J aircraft, tactical armoured vehicles, and the upgrade of armoured vehicles. And on the weekend, government officials said Public Works stands by its claim that procurement times on major equipment projects have improved.

Defence procurement, however, has become a political albatross for the government, which has spent billions of dollars on new equipment, purchasing helicopters and transport planes as well as tanks and armoured vehicles.

But Canadian-based defence firms have complained they have little to show for the government?s multi-billion dollar re-equipment program as the bulk of the work has gone to U.S. companies.

Last week, a report from the government?s special adviser on procurement, Tom Jenkins, pointed out that DND procurement policies brought in four years ago have actually hindered Canadian firms from bidding on some Canadian contracts.

A number of major equipment programs have also bogged down. The program to purchase new supply ships went off the rails in 2008, with ships now not expected until 2017.

Last summer, the government took the unprecedented step of intervening and putting a temporary halt to the purchase of military trucks after it was discovered the Defence Department tried to spend more than $300 million extra on the program without permission.

The purchase of new search-and-rescue aircraft, started in 2004, has floundered and the planes are not expected for another two to three years. The army?s plan to buy a close combat vehicle had to be restarted at least twice because of problems.

The government?s decision to buy the F-35 fighter jet bogged down after Auditor General Michael Ferguson issued a report that concluded Defence Department officials withheld key information from Parliament about the purchase, underestimated costs and didn?t follow proper procurement rules. The government has now said it is open to looking at other fighter jets.

The DND analysis pointed to a number of challenges procurement staff are facing, including government cutbacks, the rapid pace of technological change, the increasing need to consider political and economic factors and a ?high level of Auditor General and media scrutiny.?

Over the last four years, the Defence Department has gained a reputation in some government circles of playing fast and loose with procurement rules.

Former DND procurement chief Williams, who left the public service in 2005, said it is disappointing that procurement times are increasing.

?We had made fairly dramatic improvements in getting the times down? in 2003 and 2004, he said, ?but all that progress has been reversed.?

Williams said he believes the problems can be traced to the Conservative government?s decision to make a number of large purchases without competition.

?When you start doing sole-source procurements you give the upper hand to the company,? he said. ?That?s why it drags on and on because you have no leverage in contract negotiations.?

Other issues raised in the DND analysis include a lack of staff to manage the equipment projects and inadequate training for procurement officials.

That undercuts statements made by DND?s public affairs officials to the Citizen in 2008. They claimed the department was successful in dealing with recruiting and training enough procurement staff.

The analysis recommends the DND procurement staff look at improving how they figure out costs and the approval and delivery schedules for equipment programs.

In an email Public Works stated: ?The difference in these figures can be explained by the different phases for actual projects of military equipment by the respective departments. The procurement metric used by Public Works reflects a timeline from government decision to contract award.?

The email added: ?The project metric used by DND reflects a timeline from project initiation to equipment delivery which is clearly a longer process. In fact, in some cases, the process goes beyond equipment delivery to include Full Operational Capability and finally to project closeout.?

dpugliese@ottawacitizen.com

? Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen

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Original Galaxy Note getting Jelly Bean and new Nature UX

Original Galaxy Note Getting Jelly Bean And New Nature UX

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Yes, the update so many people have been waiting for. Samsung is now rolling out the Jelly Bean 4.1.2 update to the original Galaxy Note. This massive update will not only bring the device up to Jelly Bean, but will also revamp the entire user interface. Shedding TouchWiz 4, the Note will receive th...

Source: http://www.facebook.com/DroidDog/posts/622570191091685

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Abortion Question Necessitates Politically Active Societies

Featured Slider, Opinion ? By editor on February 17, 2013 12:10 pm

Dominic Gallagher | Contributing writer

At a recent Students? Union Council a motion was brought forward that called for the SU to adopt a political stance on abortion. The argument in favour of keeping our current neutrality is that this is a political rather than a student issue. The Students? Union is concerned with matters that affect us specifically as students eg. Fees, the library and education. It is not a political lobbying group for matters that affect everybody in our society eg. the economy, marijuana, abortion. We need to maintain neutrality in order to protect freedom of speech within Trinity. A member of the Gender Equality Society (DUGES) countered this argument, ?asserting that the only way students could formally achieve their freedom of expression on the matter was through referendum? (University Times, 26/01/13)

I fail to see how this is the ?only way? for students to achieve their ?freedom of expression?. The Students? Union can take only one position, that of the majority and this will result in the beliefs of the minority remaining silenced. A large number of students will have the Students? Union lobbying in their name for a political stance that they do not believe in. The solution to this problem is college societies. If Trinity students want to campaign for abortion then they should do it under the banner of a pro-choice society and this applies equally to pro-life supporters. This way it is up to the choice of the individual student whether they will support a campaign. I find it strange that many vocal advocates of a political SU stance on abortion have neglected the personal choices of Trinity students in campaigning for the student body to take a unified stance.

At this moment there exist no pro-choice or pro-life societies in Trinity. Pro-life societies have been repeatedly rejected by the Central Societies Committee (CSC) and DUGES was refused a political mandate to campaign for abortion in November. It is on this issue that students should campaign for ?freedom of expression?. Trinity students, like UCD and Queens students, should have the right to have pro-choice and pro-life societies. The CSC has without any constitutional basis singled out abortion as an issue upon which no discussion can take place. The CSC?s statement explaining its refusal to DUGES in November shows the CSC to be much like Dalila in Milton?s ?Samson Agonistes?, in offering many reasons it shows that it has no real reason.

The first argument the CSC outlines against there being any pro-choice or pro-life societies is that ?there is an inability for such societies to exist beyond a limited period of time surrounding national debates on the issue? (Trinity News, 20/11/12).

1.??????????? This is not the case. Abortion is both a moral and human rights issue. These convictions do not change regardless of governmental legislative decisions and hence these societies will always have support.

2.??????????? There are already societies who have been given political mandates in areas of a similar nature; The Animal Rights society, the Environmental society, Q soc (Trinity LGBT), The Pirate Party Society, Amnesty International.

3.??????????? Is this statement really suggesting that societies cannot be politically active on issues that are current? What politics exists except current politics?

The second argument is that there can be no political mandate for DUGES specifically because their 2006 constitution state that they ?may not act as a conduit for external groups to operate within the college? (TN 20/11/12).

4.??????????? Why single out DUGES? Many other societies are directly linked to parent organisations. Eg. Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, Greens, Labour, Sinn Fein, Socialist Workers Students Society, Amnesty International. How is DUGES different?

The third argument put forward by the CSC is that since the Students? Union was the ?only representative body for all students in Trinity College? political advocacy ?necessarily fell under their remit? (TN 20/11/12).

5.??????????? As mentioned above there are already societies in Trinity such as; The Animal Rights society, the Environmental Society, The Pirate Party Society, Amnesty International that operate politically in areas in which the Student Union is completely neutral.

6.??????????? The Students? Union can only support one political stance, that of the majority. If Political advocacy is limited to the Student Union then there is no room for any minority political views to be held in Trinity. Surely the CSC does not support such a policy?

It is clear that the CSC is completely inconsistent in its refusal to allow pro-choice and pro-life societies. It has censored Trinity Students from having a real debate on this topic. It has not granted Trinity Students their ?freedom of expression? as individuals but has instead pushed them towards a collective decision in which the minority view will be silenced. It is an outrageous contradiction that our Students? Union can take a political stance which our college societies have been refused. Both UCD and Queens, two Universities that have allowed Pro-choice and pro-life societies, have a Students? Union that is politically neutral on abortion. Pro-Choice ?(and indeed pro-life) supporters should be able to campaign for abortion legislation, but not in the name of all Trinity College students.

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Source: http://www.universitytimes.ie/2013/02/17/abortion-question-necessitates-politically-active-societies/

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G20 steps back from currency brink, heat off Japan

MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Group of 20 nations declared on Saturday there would be no currency war and deferred plans to set new debt-cutting targets, underlining broad concern about the fragile state of the world economy.

Japan's expansive policies, which have driven down the yen, escaped direct criticism in a statement thrashed out in Moscow by policymakers from the G20, which spans developed and emerging markets and accounts for 90 percent of the world economy.

Analysts said the yen, which has dropped 20 percent as a result of aggressive monetary and fiscal policies to reflate the Japanese economy, may now continue to fall.

"The market will take the G20 statement as an approval for what it has been doing -- selling of the yen," said Neil Mellor, currency strategist at Bank of New York Mellon in London. "No censure of Japan means they will be off to the money printing presses."

After late-night talks, finance ministers and central bankers agreed on wording closer than expected to a joint statement issued last Tuesday by the Group of Seven rich nations backing market-determined exchange rates.

A draft communiqu? on Friday had steered clear of the G7's call for economic policy not to be targeted at exchange rates. But the final version included a G20 commitment to refrain from competitive devaluations and stated monetary policy would be directed only at price stability and growth.

"The mood quite clearly early on was that we needed desperately to avoid protectionist measures ... that mood permeated quite quickly," Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty told reporters, adding that the wording of the G20 statement had been hardened up by the ministers.

As a result, it reflected a substantial, but not complete, endorsement of Tuesday's proclamation by the G7 nations - the United States, Japan, Britain, Canada, France, Germany and Italy.

As with the G7 intervention, Tokyo said it gave it a green light to pursue its policies unchecked.

"I have explained that (Prime Minister Shinzo) Abe's administration is doing its utmost to escape from deflation and we have gained a certain understanding," Finance Minister Taro Aso told reporters.

"We're confident that if Japan revives its own economy that would certainly affect the world economy as well. We gained understanding on this point."

Flaherty admitted it would be difficult to gauge if domestic policies were aimed at weakening currencies or not.

NO FISCAL TARGETS

The G20 also made a commitment to a credible medium-term fiscal strategy, but stopped short of setting specific goals as most delegations felt any economic recovery was too fragile.

The communiqu? said risks to the world economy had receded but growth remained too weak and unemployment too high.

"A sustained effort is required to continue building a stronger economic and monetary union in the euro area and to resolve uncertainties related to the fiscal situation in the United States and Japan, as well as to boost domestic sources of growth in surplus economies," it said.

A debt-cutting pact struck in Toronto in 2010 will expire this year if leaders fail to agree to extend it at a G20 summit of leaders in St Petersburg in September.

The United States says it is on track to meet its Toronto pledge but argues that the pace of future fiscal consolidation must not snuff out demand. Germany and others are pressing for another round of binding debt targets.

"We had a broad consensus in the G20 that we will stick to the commitment to fulfill the Toronto goals," German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said. "We do not have any interest in U.S.-bashing ... In St. Petersburg follow-up-goals will be decided."

The G20 put together a huge financial backstop to halt a market meltdown in 2009 but has failed to reach those heights since. At successive meetings, Germany has pressed the United States and others to do more to tackle their debts. Washington in turn has urged Berlin to do more to increase demand.

Backing in the communiqu? for the use of domestic monetary policy to support economic recovery reflected the U.S. Federal Reserve's commitment to monetary stimulus through quantitative easing, or QE, to promote recovery and jobs.

QE entails large-scale bond buying -- $85 billion a month in the Fed's case -- that helps economic growth but has also unleashed destabilising capital flows into emerging markets.

A commitment to minimize such "negative spillovers" was an offsetting point in the text that China, fearful of asset bubbles and lost export competitiveness, highlighted.

"Major developed nations (should) pay attention to their monetary policy spillover," Vice Finance Minister Zhu Guangyao was quoted by state news agency Xinhua as saying in Moscow.

Russia, this year's chair of the G20, admitted the group had failed to reach agreement on medium-term budget deficit levels and expressed concern about ultra-loose policies that it and other emerging economies say could store up trouble for later.

On currencies, the G20 text reiterated its commitment last November, "to move more rapidly toward mores market-determined exchange rate systems and exchange rate flexibility to reflect underlying fundamentals, and avoid persistent exchange rate misalignments".

It said disorderly exchange rate movements and excess volatility in financial flows could harm economic and financial stability.

(Additional reporting by Gernot Heller, Lesley Wroughton, Maya Dyakina, Tetsushi Kajimoto, Jan Strupczewski, Lidia Kelly, Katya Golubkova, Jason Bush, Anirban Nag and Michael Martina. Writing by Douglas Busvine. Editing by Timothy Heritage/Mike Peacock)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/g20-defuses-talk-currency-war-no-accord-debt-075651623--finance.html

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